The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday rejected MQM-P MNA Syed Mustafa Kamal’s request for immediately granting him pardon in a contempt of court case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

During the hearing of a contempt of court case against Mustafa Kamal and Senator Faisal Vawda, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa directed both of them to again submit their replies to the show-cause notices issued to them in the case in a week.

A three-member bench of the SC, headed by CJP Isa, heard the case.

Other two judges on the bench were Justice Irfan Saadat and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

The CJP also issued notices to the TV channels for airing news conferences of both these politicians and ordered them to submit their replies in two weeks.

He said that owners of these channels should explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

During the hearing, Barrister Farogh Naseem said that he, on behalf of his client Mustafa Kamal, had submitted an unconditional apology to the court.

He clarified that the press conference, which Kamal had addressed on May 16, was actually on the interest-related appeals pending in courts. “My client has surrendered before the court,” he explained.

Justice Isa asked where was Vawda’s lawyer?

He, then addressing Barrister Farogh, asked what he had to say on the presser addressed by Kamal. “Do you think it falls in the category of contempt of court?” the CJP questioned.

He went on to say that there would have been no issues if Vawda and Kamal had used contemptuous words against the apex court during private conversation or even in parliament. “But when you speak at a press club in front of media and all TV channels show you live, then it is altogether a different thing.”

The apex court adjourned the case’s hearing until June 28.

Mustafa Kamal says his presser was on ‘interest’

Later talking to the media after having done with the court’s hearing, Kamal said the press conference he had addressed was in fact on the interest-based system in the country. “While on one hand, respect must be shown to judges, at the same time nobody could overlook the threats posed by interest to our economic system,” he said, and added it was high time that the government introduced the interest-free economic system in the country.

MQM-P leader further said that if the bench thought that he had used contemptuous language against judges, then he begged unconditional apology from them.

Kamal went on to say he was happy that verses of the holy Quran were cited during today’s hearing.

Vawda insists he did no wrong

On the other hand, Vawda, during his media talk, remained adamant that he had done no wrong. “When it comes to seeking forgiveness, I can even seek it from an ordinary person in the street,” he said, adding, “I don’t mind appearing before the chief justice. I will accept whatever decision the court gives in the case.”

Reporters: Amanat Gishkori and Hashir Ahsan